State trooper hurt when motorcycle hits new pavement bump on Route 101

CANDIA -- A state trooper conducting speed enforcement on Route 101 was sent to the hospital Thursday after the motorcyle he was operating hit a lip on a section of fresh pavement and he fell over the handle bars, police said.

Trooper First Class Timothy Stearns was transported to the Concord Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and was released, according to state police.

Stearns was operating a 2007 Harley Davidson when he entered the crossover at mile marker 109.2 on Route 101 just after 10 a.m. Once traffic eastbound was clear, Stearns began to exit the crossover and enter the eastbound left lane, authorities said.

That section was freshly paved, resulting in a substantial lip between the new pavement on the highway and the old pavement in the crossover.

As the trooper negotiated the changes in pavement height, the front wheel spun on the lip, causing the wheel to spin. Stearns fell over the handlebars as the motorcycle slid onto its side.